Northern Rail Ex North East & North West Sections of the Railways Pension Scheme– Ending of Contracting-Out Proposals

As you will recall from previous Circulars as a result of Government legislation defined benefit pension schemes which currently contact out of the State Second Pension will no longer be able to do so from April 2016. Both members and employers will see an increase to their National Insurance Contributions (NIC) of 1.4% and 3.4% respectively as the rebate associated to contracting-out is abolished.

While members will have no choice but to accept the increase in NICs, the Government has put in place legislation which will allow employers to recoup their additional payroll cost by either changing future service benefits or/and increasing contributions. However, the employer still has to consult with members.

Please note the employer has to seek actuarial advice and cannot recoup more than the rebate.

The RMT and our sister unions have been meeting with TOC employers through the Informal Pensions Working Group (IPWG) to find a set of generic proposals which could be used across all TOCs. The final proposals (framework) which were agreed by the RMT General Grades Committee on 1st December 2015 are:

• Cost Neutral Early Retirement Factors to age 62 for non-protected members for future service only

• Pensionable pay increases capped at RPI + 0.25% with any increase above the cap being pensionable for future service only. This change affects protected, indefeasible right and non- protected members

In accordance with these proposals Northern Rail management have informed our representatives that they intend to recoup their NICs rebate from both sections of Railways Pension Scheme and wish to use the IPWG framework proposals. Management have indicated that their estimated additional payroll costs for each of the sections are as follows:

1. Northern Rail Ex North East additional payrolls cost £3.0m per annum. These proposals will recoup £2.4m per annum.

2. Northern Rail Ex North West additional payrolls cost £2.6m per annum. These proposals will recoup £2.3m per annum.

As a result of the above proposals contributions will reduce for members and the employer.

This item was placed before the National Executive Committee on 31st March 2016 where the following report was adopted and noted:

“That we note the employers contracting-out proposals are in accordance with the Informal Pension Working Group proposals which have already been accepted by this union.

We also note the reduction in the Joint Contribution Rate which is a result of these proposals.

We further note that we have now received the proposals in respect of the Northern Rail Ex North East section and that they are in line with those already agreed at the Informal Pension Working Group.

Therefore we note the correspondence on file.”

For further information on the ending of contacting and the IPWG framework proposals please go to http://bit.ly/1Vd7ytS or refer to Circular No. NP/256/15 of 18th December 2015.